Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 315 - 296: Going to the Audition

Fu Jichen calmed down a bit and sat upright.

Shen Jianian’s ears turned red, her eyes resting on the big screen, her mind still lingering on that kiss just now. Fu Jichen never loses composure in public, even though in this "public" setting, there’s no one else but them.

"What’s wrong with you?" Shen Jianian asked him softly.

Fu Jichen rested his elbow on the armrest, fingers supporting his temple, slightly tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice, "I don’t like the way you look at that man."

Shen Jianian looked at him in confusion: "Which man?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Fu Jichen lifted his chin, pointed in the direction of the big screen. Shen Jianian followed his gesture and looked ahead, and on the screen was Gu Chongli’s face, looking extraordinarily handsome under the director’s crafted light and shadow effects.

Gu Chongli?

So, all this while, Fu Jichen was referring to a scene in the movie?

Is he being irrationally jealous?

Shen Jianian felt utterly helpless, accompanied by an amused expression: "That’s all fake, acted out." She recalled the scene when they shot that scene, and told Fu Jichen, "When I was filming, I had to do several takes. Do you know why?"

Fu Jichen’s curiosity was piqued, and he looked at her and asked, "Why?"

"At the time, when I was on stage playing the cello, I spaced out, and a snippet flashed through my mind. I was on stage playing, and someone was watching me from the audience. I initially thought the man was Pei Che, because he indeed watched me play before." Shen Jianian spoke calmly, with a faint smile at her lips, "Later, when I reunited with Xiaxia, she showed me the ’Shining Starlight’ variety show, and I only then realized when I was acting, at that moment, the person I thought of was you, but I couldn’t make out the face."

Fu Jichen did not hide his surprise: "What else did you think of?"

Shen Jianian shook her head, disappointing him. She couldn’t recall any more complete memories.

Fu Jichen patted her head, indicating he didn’t mind.

As the movie ended, the credits rolled on the screen, Shen Jianian leaned her head on his shoulder: "I have something to tell you."

"What?" Fu Jichen extended his arm behind her neck, wrapping her shoulders.

"On Monday, the director of this movie contacted me, saying Director Wang Kelun wants to invite me to audition for his new film. Do you know Director Wang Kelun? The famous one who directed ’Throne’." Shen Jianian turned to face him, "Xiaxia said it’s too good a chance to miss. Do you think I should give it a try?"

"You’re seeking my opinion?" Fu Jichen found it novel; she always had her principles and rarely cared about others’ thoughts.

"You’re my boyfriend now, isn’t it normal to help me with some advice?" Shen Jianian said matter-of-factly.

Fu Jichen’s body tensed up, and after a while, the hand around her shoulder tightened.

He never knew that someone saying something so ordinary could be more powerful than any words of love. Perhaps because Shen Jianian had never openly admitted he was her boyfriend before, her rightful boyfriend.

Fu Jichen thought seriously and offered his suggestion: "I know Director Wang Kelun; his films indeed have depth. You can give it a try."

"You think it’s okay?" Shen Jianian sought his confirmation.

"Yes," Fu Jichen said, "Of course, that’s assuming you’re willing to try. If you’re internally resistant, my opinion doesn’t mean much."

"I have some concerns, but not to the point of resistance."

"What concerns? Tell me about them."

Shen Jianian held his warm, dry hand with both of hers and said with downcast lashes, "I’m afraid I won’t do well and will disappoint others’ expectations."

"You’re always better than you think."

"You’re just seeing me through love’s rosy lens."

Fu Jichen chuckled, clasping her hands. He rarely laughed so heartily, shedding his usual calm and composed demeanor.

*

The next day, Shen Jianian called Wu Heng back, saying she had made up her mind and agreed to give it a try.

Wu Heng was pleasantly surprised. He had prepared himself for rejection again, thinking about how to explain to Wang Kelun, given it was the first time he had asked him for something. He never expected this delightful surprise that Shen Jianian agreed.

"Hold on, Director Wang Kelun is here with me, I’ll tell him right away."

The line went silent for a few minutes, possibly Wu Heng and Wang Kelun discussing something.

Shen Jianian waited patiently for a while, and then Wu Heng’s voice came through: "Hello, are you still there?"

"I’m here, Director Wu." Shen Jianian said humbly.

"I just talked with Director Wang Kelun, and he said, on February 24th, that’s the day after tomorrow, you can come to Long Garden for the audition." Wu Heng was very excited. After all, Shen Jianian was his discovery, and for her to be appreciated by a senior director brought him great pride.

"Okay, thank you, Director Wu."

Shen Jianian set a reminder on her memo.

On the 24th, Fu Jichen offered to send her for the audition, but she declined, choosing to take a taxi herself. Fu Jichen didn’t agree, so he assigned her a driver.

Which was Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi appeared in front of Shen Jianian wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, trying to pull out the most friendly smile he could manage: "Hello, Miss Shen, I’m Zheng Yi, the driver assigned to you by Mr. Chen. You can just call me Xiao Zheng. You can contact me directly for any travel needs from now on."

Shen Jianian had lost her memory, so he had to introduce himself once more.

Shen Jianian had seen him before; when Fu Jichen had initially tied her up from Jiang City to Beicheng, it was Zheng Yi and Qu Mo who took turns driving. She hadn’t seen him in a while.

Zheng Yi touched his nose and started the engine: "We’re headed to Long Garden, right?"

Shen Jianian confirmed by checking her phone: "Yes, thanks for your trouble."

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all."

Zheng Yi’s gaze returned from the rear-view mirror as he merged into the main road.

After more than forty minutes of driving, they smoothly arrived at Long Garden, stopping in front of a private residence.

The front yard of over three hundred square meters was spacious enough to serve as a horse-riding arena, with a dozen or so people chattering in the corridor, all of whom seemed to have just arrived there like Shen Jianian.

Only then did Shen Jianian realize that she wasn’t the only one auditioning today; all those people, accompanied by assistants or agents, were also here for the audition.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Jianian followed them inside, drawing lots to queue and wait.

A female celebrity in front of her wore a pure white suit over a long black down jacket, with a simple face, and an elegant and fresh demeanor. Next to her should be her assistant, about the same age as her, a plump young lady holding coffee and a bagel: "Sister Yan Yan, why don’t you eat something, it looks like it’s going to be a long wait."

"No, I won’t eat." The elegant girl spoke with a crisp and charming voice, "Even a bite and my lower belly will puff out, affecting my state."

The assistant sighed: "Then have some coffee, iced Americano, it reduces swelling."

"Freezing, who can drink something iced!"

"...Alright."

The actress addressed as "Sister Yan Yan" inadvertently turned back, glanced at Shen Jianian, and found her familiar. Thinking carefully, wasn’t she the one from the recent hit movie?

"Are you the one playing the violin in ’Shining Starlight’?" She recalled.

Shen Jianian smiled: "Yes."

The girl in front slightly curled her lips, her tone indifferent and hard to decipher: "Initially, Director Wu Heng wanted me for that role. It was only because I had no available schedule that he picked a cellist from the local orchestra."

If Shen Jianian couldn’t pick up the sarcasm in her words, she would be considered foolish.

"Really?" Shen Jianian smiled faintly, "I hadn’t heard Director Wu mention it."

"You don’t know me?" Tong Yan wondered if she was pretending not to recognize her, "Which entertainment company are you with?"

Shen Jianian didn’t answer her previous question: "Not with any company."

Tong Yan crossed her arms, sizing her up, that face was nothing but a plain flowery appearance, bland and flavorless, not signed with an agency, fighting alone, means no backing, not worth fearing.

"Which role are you auditioning for today?"

"Not sure yet, just trying anything."

Tong Yan inwardly dismissed her as "boring," turning back, not talking to her further. Regardless of the role, she has a better chance of winning; at least she has a leading role in a popular drama, while this girl has only starred in a movie with minor scenes as a female N role, her acting just so-so.

Shen Jianian overheard the female celebrity whispering to her assistant: "Anyone can come to audition for Wang Kelun’s film now... overestimating themselves."

Did she really think she was speaking so softly that no one else could hear? Shen Jianian smiled silently.

After waiting for more than an hour, someone in the room called a number: "Number 13, Tong Yan, has Tong Yan arrived?"

"Here." The girl in front of Shen Jianian raised her hand, took off her down jacket, and handed it to the assistant.

Tong Yan opened the door and went inside, her figure disappearing behind the door.

Turns out her name is Tong Yan. Shen Jianian noted.

She hadn’t watched Tong Yan’s films, but the name sounded familiar, as Bai Changxia seemed to have mentioned it to her, saying Tong Yan was also a cellist, and had successfully developed careers in both entertainment and music. Bai Changxia had even encouraged her to emulate Tong Yan.

If Bai Changxia knew what Tong Yan was like in private, he might not have called for her to emulate her.