The next day, James received a report from Winnie Morgan that the company was gearing up for auditions.
Auditions? Isn't that just picking out girls?
He immediately tossed aside the PS5 controller he had just bought and remarked to Avril that he was leaving.
But Avril was not about to let her "dad" escape that easily; she dropped her controller and latched onto his leg. "If you're going, I'm going with you!"
"I have work to do; don't cause trouble," he replied firmly.
"Bull! I saw you're going to pick your leading lady!"
"......"
James felt relieved he hadn't taken this girl to bed; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to throw her off so casually while wanting to find other girls.
"Be good, listen to me, and go familiarize yourself with the script I gave you yesterday. Think about your character, or find someone to rehearse with. The shoot is starting soon; you don't want to embarrass yourself..."
With that, he attempted to reason with her.
Avril, however, sat on the floor and clutched his leg, refusing to let go.
"I'm not listening! I want to go with you!" she declared stubbornly.
"Are you not worried you won't keep up?"
"That's something to worry about after filming starts; why stress myself out now?"
Her insistence left James speechless.
Not wanting to be too forceful, he begrudgingly conceded.
After all, it was just to take a look around, and bringing her along wouldn't be a big deal.
They hopped into Jay Johnson's car and headed to the hotel where the cast preparations were taking place.
Upon arrival, Director Park, along with crew members and the producer from the company, were waiting at the entrance.
Spotting James's car, Director Park led the group to meet him, bowing and greeting, "Good morning, King!"
James nodded with a smile, "Just here to take a look; don't mind me."
Director Park, sensing the importance of the meeting, quickly apologized, "I didn't expect you to come. We haven't prepared anything; I'm truly sorry."
James chuckled, "Your tone is different from when I last met you."
"Hey, I didn't know your true identity back then."
As they spoke, Director Park introduced the other members to James.
He paid little attention until one name caught his earâthe producer was from his own company.
The man was a distinguished-looking middle-aged gentleman, possessing a keen gaze and a warm smile.
"Hello, King. I'm Yang Mu, and you can call me Little Yang."
James nodded in acknowledgment. "Thanks for your help today."
"Anything for you, King; it's an honor to serve you."
As Yang Mu spoke, his eyes inadvertently drifted towards Avril, recognizing her as the star James intended to promote.
Indeed, she was stunning.
Avril remained silent next to James, her demeanor calm.
"Why are we still waiting? Let's get started!" James urged.
The group hurriedly led him into the hotel room.
The room was spacious, with several cameras pointed at a carpeted stage and a white backdrop standing tall behind it.
A few tables and chairs were set up in front, with papers, pens, and bottled water scattered about.
James took the central seat, where a card indicated he was representing the production company. The writing appeared to be handwritten, unlike the printed names for the other roles like director and producer.
They hadn't anticipated Avril's presence; after a brief discussion, they sent the assistant director away to make room.
With four of them seated, James heard someone from an adjacent room announce, "Actor number twelve, Liu Songde, please come in for your audition."
James furrowed his brow, sensing that things weren't lining up with his expectations.
Sure enough, a bronze-skinned man with a rugged appearance, complete with thick eyebrows and striking eyes, stepped in.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Liu Songde; I'm 24 years old, 1.82 meters tall, and weigh 70 kilograms. I love acting and working out, and I have a background in martial arts. I can also play the erhu..."
His voice boomed with confidence, radiating a strong presence that emanated a vibe of a tough guy.
Avril couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at the mention of his erhu skills.
Liu Songde paused briefly, then continued his introduction, sharing his alma mater and previous acting experiences.
Once he finished, an awkward silence filled the room.
Director Park suddenly remembered that he should take the lead in the absence of the assistant director. "Show us your physique, give us some expressions, and then act out a scene."
Liu Songde stepped forward energetically, performing a series of punches and then transitioning into expressions of laughter and tears in front of the camera.
Finally, he acted out a scene where he kneeled on the ground, utterly devastated upon hearing news of the female lead's passing.
Director Park glanced at James, who had remained impassive throughout the performance, before sharing a knowing look with the producer.
"Overall, not bad. Let's wait for him to come back for the second round of auditions."
Liu Songde beamed with delight, bowing repeatedly. "Thank you, Director!"
As he exited, Park and Yang Mu began discussing which character Liu might fit best.
Their seriousness in deliberation made James, who had come to enjoy the view, feel somewhat out of place.
Next up was another male audition.
He introduced himself as Chi Hui, immediately stunning everyone with his good looks.
Dressed in a black T-shirt with a tousled hairstyle, his striking features were perfectly chiseledâhis face clean and sharp, with fierce yet gentle eyes, giving him an almost ethereal aura.
"Hello, I'm Chi Hui. I'm 22 years old, 1.75 meters tall, and weigh 62 kilograms. My hobbies include singing and dancing. I graduated from Beijing Film Academy and have no prior acting experience."
He came off as polite and charming, with a soft voice like a gentle prince.
James turned to see Avril with her fingers intertwined and resting on her chin, starry-eyed as she gazed at him.
He felt irritated; here he was trying to pick out potential stars, and this girl was getting distracted by a pretty face.
Wasn't this supposed to be about the women? Why were they all auditioning men?
"Please show us your physique, and feel free to perform a dance you're comfortable with," the assistant director prompted.
"Sure!"
Chi Hui spread his arms and began to dance gracefully.
Occasionally he would glance back with coyness, his charm enough to make even a hardened man like James struggle against his feelings.
Park and the producer exchanged excited looks, nodding to each other in agreement. This guy fit the role of the male lead perfectly.
"Park, we should cast him as the male lead; the ratings would definitely soar!" Avril leaned over and whispered to the director.
Park nodded in agreement, about to call the stylist to take him to try some traditional costumes when he noticed James's disapproving expression.
Realizing that his boss wasn't fond of the actor, Park quickly countered, "No, he's too soft; he doesn't have the needed gravitas at all."
The producer glanced at him in confusion.
This guy was quite impressive, right? He had a captivating smile and a transcendent aura; how could they dismiss him without a shot?
Just as he opened his mouth to advocate for Chi, the director leaned back, revealing James's stern profile, and immediately understood.
"Exactly, he dances like a woman, and it's your kind undermining the vibes of the film industry!"
The conversation continued, hinting at the intensity of James's convictions, ensuring the vision of the production aligned with his preferences.
As the auditions unfolded, the dynamics within the room shifted, reflecting the unyielding authority James wielded in this businessâan authority that influenced every choice made that day.