REBORN TO LOVE YOU - CHAPTER 11

Chapter 11

Outside the Meeting Room.

Someone called out, "Number 48, Su Yun."

Su Yun stood up, nodding to the crowd. Then, with her chin slightly lifted, she walked toward the meeting room.

She wore a red dress, her hair swept high. As she walked in step by step, her figure was graceful and lithe, exuding an incomparable charm.

Producer Chen looked her over and spoke first. "Miss Su, please feel free to choose any segment to perform."

Su Yun nodded with a smile, and when she raised her head again...

One hand was held as if clutching a wine cup. She spoke, "Since I, Yun Niang, dare to open an inn in the heart of this Great Desert, I naturally do not fear your reputation as a Lone Eagle of the sands..."

After finishing the line, she raised her hand as if drinking, her eyes lifting slightly as she laughed. "A guest from afar is still a guest. Tell me, what do you want to play?"

...

Su Yun’s features were naturally gorgeous, and for this occasion, she had specifically applied a seductive makeup look. She truly did embody a hint of Yun Niang’s flirtatious and scolding persona.

Director Zhang looked up, for the first time seriously observing someone's performance.

When Su Yun said, "My performance is complete," someone clapped and remarked, "Miss Su truly deserves her reputation as one of the top ten talented young actors. I think she fits the image of the female lead quite well."

"Yes, yes, Miss Su’s acting is indeed superb."

Everyone looked toward Director Zhang, but they only heard him say in a flat voice, "Next."

Su Yun knew his temperament well and did not say much. She simply nodded to everyone with a smile before turning to walk out.

...

The next to enter was Qu Zhi.

Since her debut at eighteen, it had been fifteen years; she had an excellent reputation in the industry.

She had collaborated with Director Zhang seven years ago...

Not only that, she had previously won Best Actress at the 24th Golden Rooster Awards and the 28th Hundred Flowers Awards.

Seeing her enter, everyone smiled and engaged in pleasantries; even Director Zhang uncharacteristically spoke a word or two.

Qu Zhi’s expression was soft. She nodded to the group and exchanged a few smiling words with Director Zhang.

After the greetings were finished, she gave her thanks...

Then she opened her mouth and spoke.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, what is it that you seek?"

Everyone was startled. This was a line from early in the script... back when Yan Si was still the Crown Prince and Yun Niang was only sixteen.

Director Zhang also frowned. He had thought Qu Zhi would choose the ending to perform, as that was what she was best at...

He hadn't expected this.

He looked up, and the first thing he saw was a gaze full of bashful smiles, as if one were seeing the Yun Niang who had just reached adulthood and was in love with the Crown Prince.

By the time she finished her performance, the crowd had not yet come to their senses.

In the end, it was Director Zhang who started the applause, offering a sincere compliment: "After all these years apart, your acting has improved even further."

The others also stood up and joined the applause, most of them offering words of praise.

The corners of Qu Zhi’s mouth still held a perfect smile. She nodded toward Director Zhang. "I hope that after seven years, I can collaborate with Director Zhang once again."

Director Zhang did not give a direct response, only offering an ambiguous reply: "Go back and wait for news for now."

Qu Zhi was graceful in her conduct and said no more.

She nodded to the crowd and turned to walk out.

As soon as the door closed, Producer Chen spoke to Director Zhang. "She is a two-time Best Actress winner after all; she truly cannot be underestimated."

After saying this, he added with a smile, "I think we have found the female lead for our drama."

Director Zhang did not respond, only asking, "How many people are left?"

Producer Chen checked the list and spoke. "There’s one more... Zhuang Jiang? I haven't heard this name before."

Someone chimed in, "Probably a newcomer pushed in by some small company. I don't think there's any need to see her. We can just pick between Su Yun and Qu Zhi."

Many people agreed with this sentiment.

An unknown name would likely just be a waste of time.

Director Zhang’s hands were tightly clasped. Su Yun and Qu Zhi were certainly suitable, but they were a far cry from the Yun Niang in his heart.

He closed his eyes for a long moment before finally saying, "Let’s see her first."

Outside the door, someone shouted, "Number 50, Zhuang Jiang..."

Zhuang Jiang stood up and came face-to-face with the exiting Qu Zhi.

Qu Zhi spoke first. "You are Zhuang Jiang? It’s a very nice name. Which company’s artist are you?"

Zhuang Jiang looked up at her. After a long silence, she curled her lips into a light laugh. "You will find out very soon."

Having said this, she stopped looking at her and stepped forward.

Her words naturally displeased the onlookers. Someone remarked, "She’s not very old, but she has quite a temper. She actually dared to talk back to Sister Qu..." "No wonder she isn't famous. With a temper like that, it would be a miracle if she could get popular..."

...

Zhuang Jiang chuckled. She didn't speak or stop, heading straight inside.

Six people sat in the meeting room. Aside from Director Zhang and Producer Chen, the other four were the sponsors for this project.

Producer Chen looked at the young girl standing before him and couldn't help but frown...

Knowing it was an audition for the female lead, she actually wore such casual clothes.

She was likely another one relying on her face to move up.

Better to end this early and go home soon.

Thinking this, his tone was somewhat flat: "Miss Zhuang, please select a segment from the script to perform."

Zhuang Jiang said nothing. She simply took off her baseball cap and tossed it onto a nearby table.

Then, she swept her gaze across the six people present before she began to speak.

"What Your Highness seeks is what is in my heart..."

This was the same segment Qu Zhi had just performed—Yun Niang in the early stages.

Director Zhang looked up and saw that her face was like a peach blossom, her eyes filled with spring water... as she spoke, she was half-bashful and half-smiling.

He sighed in his heart; she was good material, but unfortunately, there was already a "gem" before her.

But before he could finish his lament, he saw her expression shift rapidly. The previous smile vanished completely, replaced by eyes brimming with tears.

"If you ask me to go, I will go."

"I have said that no matter what you want, I will seize it for you."

This was the scene when Yan Si was disabled and asked her to go to the Great Desert; it was the line Yun Niang said to him during their parting.

Everyone was stunned. Even those who previously had no interest lifted their heads...

Only to see her expression change yet again.

Zhuang Jiang raised her hand as if drinking, the corners of her lips lifting slightly with an endless air of refined charm.

"Lose? Ha, I have never lost!"

This was what she said in the Great Desert when facing the Lone Eagles.

Zhuang Jiang was still smiling, but it was different from the smile in the first scene... Now, even her smile carried seven parts seduction and three parts mystery.

Such a woman was undoubtedly captivating, yet she also made people hesitate to approach.

Zhuang Jiang’s expression changed once more, becoming happy and excited.

Her Prince had finally reclaimed what was his.

But as she looked back, she revealed a touch of melancholy.

In this final scene, she didn't say a single word, leaving only a soft sigh... yet it caused a jolt in everyone's hearts, like a stone hitting the water, turning into ripples that spread out circle by circle.

No one spoke.

Even the habitually calm Director Zhang stared blankly at the person before him.

This girl, using four scenes, had told the story of Yun Niang’s entire life.

Her cuteness, her allure, her melancholy...

In this short ten-minute performance, she had actually made people feel—

The person before them was Yun Niang.

Only she could truly interpret Yun Niang’s life.

However.

Why...

Why?

Why did he see Yan Man... in this young girl?

That woman who was as gorgeous as fire, as bright as the sun.

Director Zhang spoke, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty: "You... who are you?"

"Me?"

Zhuang Jiang picked up the baseball cap from the table, placed it on her head, and gave him a gentle smile. "I am Zhuang Jiang."

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