Chapter 60 - 37: Can’t Keep a Low Profile Anymore

Translator: 549690339

Ye Bingtong composed herself and walked up to the stage.

With a faint smile on her lips, she said, “Director Li, I am Ye Bingtong, I…”

Ye Bingtong was trying to cozy up some more.

Li Mingyu directly said, “No need to introduce yourself, just go and draw a topic.”

The smile on Ye Bingtong’s lips stiffened briefly, but she still maintained her composure.

Bai Shilan must have already spoken for her by now, Li Mingyu’s deliberate coldness towards her was probably to avoid suspicion.

With that thought, Ye Bingtong felt a bit more at ease.

She walked over to a box and casually drew out a small piece of paper.

On each piece of paper, there was a different acting excerpt.

Many people had already auditioned before, and some excerpts were relatively easy while others were more difficult.

Ye Bingtong unfolded the paper and her expression changed subtly.

The scene she had drawn was recognized as the most difficult one.

In this scene,

she had to perform a pantomime with multiple emotional changes within a minute. Anyone who had drawn this scene and couldn’t last more than ten seconds was stopped early in their performance.

She was a bit unlucky, indeed.

Ye Bingtong was slightly panicked but quickly calmed herself down.

Could she be the same as the others?

With Bai Shilan’s face to consider, Li Mingyu would definitely be more courteous to her than to others.

After confirming the excerpt Ye Bingtong had drawn, Li Mingyu raised an eyebrow, “Thirty seconds to prepare.”

This scene had no dialogue, just some descriptions.

“You enter a room and find a dying person. You realize it’s your nemesis. You have murdered him. Just as you think about disposing of the body, suddenly, someone knocks on the door.”

The plot made little sense, purely meant to facilitate showcasing acting skills in a short time.

How to interpret it depended entirely on personal performance.

The thirty-second countdown had ended.

Ye Bingtong’s mind went blank, she clenched her teeth and forced herself to calm down.

Soon.

The time was up.

“Begin,” Li Mingyu said directly.

Ye Bingtong mustered a smile and mimed opening a door; as she entered the room, following the description, she was to see her dying enemy.

Ye Bingtong stared blankly in one direction with eyes suddenly widened, her eyebrows floating upwards in shock, displaying utter terror.

She had to continue the performance.

Li Mingyu rubbed his temples, “That’s enough.”

Ye Bingtong quickly stopped and looked expectantly at Li Mingyu.

She thought her performance was quite good.

With Bai Shilan’s influence, could the role be directly hers?

“Eliminated,” Li Mingyu said coldly, “Next.”

Eliminated?

Ye Bingtong’s face twisted for a moment in disbelief, this wasn’t possible!

Could it be that Bai Shilan hadn’t spoken to Li Mingyu?

Ye Bingtong felt indignant, but she couldn’t voice her challenge openly. Biting her teeth and refusing to leave, she said loudly, “Director Li, I… I feel this isn’t quite fair.”

Li Mingyu frowned.

Ye Bingtong quickly said, “Some people draw simple scenes, others draw difficult ones. But the preparation time is the same for everyone, just thirty seconds. Isn’t this unfair to those who draw difficult scenes? I’m not just speaking for myself—many who auditioned before also suffered because of this. Although they don’t say it out loud, I’m sure they feel aggrieved.”

Ye Bingtong directly allied others with her own camp.

She was not the only one dissatisfied with the random draw!

She couldn’t believe that with so many people protesting together, Li Mingyu wouldn’t compromise!

Li Mingyu scanned the room and indeed, there were several eliminated individuals looking discontent.

But.

The discontent of these people was irrelevant to Li Mingyu.

As a director who had long made a name for herself, she had long possessed the power to make the rules!

Even if she suddenly interrupted the audition now and walked away, who would dare say anything?!

Li Mingyu looked up, just in time to see a completely unconcerned Ye Xiao playing with her nails, and suddenly smiled.

She said indifferently, “It seems that many of you are dissatisfied with the rules of this audition. Well then, let’s change the rules.”

A look of joy immediately appeared on Ye Bingtong’s face.

Li Mingyu said indifferently, holding the slip of paper that Ye Bingtong had drawn, “For this scene, those who wish to challenge it need not wait for their number, just step forward immediately.”

The expressions of the crowd changed slightly.

This scene was known to be the most difficult.

But it was a double-edged sword, too.

Hard to perform, but if done well, it could better showcase one’s level and increase the chances of being chosen.

But if one botched it, it would be a complete disaster!

The crowd couldn’t help but hesitate.

Ye Xiao glanced at the script.

If she didn’t step up, according to the script, Li Mingyu was about to call her by name.

Oh well.

Her acting talent was like fireflies in the night, impossible to hide, shining brightly wherever she went.

Li Mingyu raised an eyebrow, about to call out names directly.

Ye Xiao had already stood up, a devilish smile on her lips, “Since none of you dare to challenge it, I’ll have to do it. It’s time to show what a true genius looks like.”

The crowd: “…”

This Ye Xiao was too low-key before.

After being taken back by the Ye Family, she went straight to the other extreme!

If it were any of them saying such a thing in public, they’d probably die of embarrassment before finishing their sentence.

Li Mingyu’s lips twitched slightly, but since she had already learned about Ye Xiao’s style from Professor Yan, she managed to remain calm.

“Then give it a try,” Li Mingyu said with narrowed eyes.

This girl was so arrogant.

Her requirements for her had to be stricter than for the others.

She needed to be shown.

Acting was not so simple!

Ye Xiao lifted her chin, walking with an air of disdain, and approached Ye Bingtong with a look of scorn.

She pushed Ye Bingtong’s shoulder directly, “What are you still loitering around here for? Get off the stage.”

Ye Bingtong’s face turned ugly, “Ye Xiao, you…”

“You what?” Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow, “Glaring and grimacing, acting like a complete mess and you still talk about fairness? Go down and watch properly, I’ll show you what real acting is.”

Tears welled up in Ye Bingtong’s eyes from anger, she couldn’t help but look at Li Mingyu pitifully.

But Li Mingyu waved her hand, “Ye Bingtong, go down. Don’t hold up everyone else’s performance.”

Ye Bingtong’s heart felt congested, she managed a forced smile. After walking down, a hint of hatred flashed in her eyes.

She would like to see!

What Ye Xiao could pull off!

If there was even the slightest flaw, she wouldn’t be merciful and would mock her immediately.

“Thirty seconds to prepare?” Li Mingyu looked at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow, “No need. Just say start.”

What a joke.

One second to get into character, one second to get out, that was her special skill.

Li Mingyu’s pupils contracted slightly, her face taking on a more serious look, “Very well. Begin.”